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(No Model.)

J. RICHARD 81; F. COLMAN. WRENCH.

No. 573,702. Patented Dec. 22,1896.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS RICHARD AND FREDERICK. COLMAN, OF BISBEE, ARIZONA TERRI- TORY;SAID RICHARD ASSIGNOR TO SAID COLMAN.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,702, dated December22, 1896.

Application filed July 22, 1896.

Serial No. 600,119. In) model.)

To (Il/ZZ whom, 1125 may concern.-

Be it known that we, J ULIUS RICHARD and FREDERICK COLMAN, of Bisbee, inthe county of Cochise and Territory of Arizona, have invented anewandImproved \Vrench, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

Our invention relates to an improvement in wrenches, particularly tothat class of wrenches known as pipe-wrenches.

The object of the invention is to construct achain wrench thelinkswhereof are adapted to be brought in clamping engagement with a pipe,and to form the links in such manner that they will fit snugly almostentirely around the pipe, and by reason of their continuous and evenbearing prevent the pipe from being crushed while subjected to thenecessary force to turn it.

Another object of the invention is to provide the chain-body of thewrench with a leverso connected that when the lever is applied in adirection to turn the pipe the clampin g-body of the wrench will betightened on the pipe during such action, the attachment between thelever and the clamping or chain body of the wrench being also such thatby moving the lever backward the pipe will be immediately released fromclamping engagement with the body portion of the wrench, thus afiectinga quick release.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a pipe-wrench which maybe conveniently used where pipes are close together or close to a wall,partition, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the lever of thewrench that it may be quickly disconnected from the body and the bodyopened out practically to a straight line.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation and partial sectional view of theimproved wrench,

illustrating the wrench applied to a pipe, the latter being intransverse section. Fig. 2 is afront elevation of the wrench; and Fig. 3is a side view of the handle-section of the lever of the wrench, thehandle serving as a continuation of the said lever.

In carrying out the invention the body of the wrench consists of anumber of links 10, which are ordinarily made solid, and the links areconnected through the medium of inter- 6o locking knuckles 11, suitablepivot-pins 12 being passed through the knuckles, and the inner faces 13of the links are concaved, the concaved surfaces being uniform and theconcavities such that when the links are carried around the pipe, asshown in Fig. 1, each link that can possibly engage with the pipe willhave a smooth and continuous contact therewith. Thus when pressure isbrought to bear on the links in a manner to close them around the pipetheir even bearing on the latter will prevent said pipe from beingcrushed, enabling the wrench to be used with good efiect on pipes ofthin brass or copper.

At one end of the chain of solid links 10 a locking-link 14 is pivotedor hinged, and this locking-link is also provided with a concaved innerface and has, furthermore, a longitudinal slot made therein, and theouter end wall of the slot 15 is beveled in opposite directions to anapproximately central point, forming a sharp transverse surface 16, asshown in Fig. 1.

A bar 17 is pivotally connected with the opposite end of the link orchain body of the Wrench, and the said bar is of such width that it maypass readily through the slot 15 of the locking-link. The front edge ofthe bar 17, which is to act in the capacity of a lever, is provided witha number of teeth 18, as is also shown in Fig. 1, and when the lever orbar 17 is drawn upward through the locking-link a sufiicient distance tobring the body or clamping-links 10 to an engagement with the pipe thesharp edge 16 of the inner 5 end wall of the locking-link will engagewith one of the teeth 18 of the bar or lever, and as downward pressureis applied to the lever the lever will be carried in direction of or toa contact with the upper inclined surface of I00 the end wall of theslot in the locking-link, carrying that link downward over or indirection of the body of the clamping-link 10, to which the lever 17 ispivoted,thereby causing the body portion of the wrench to tightly clampthe pipe, and as the downward movement of the lever is continued to turnthe pipe the body of the wrench will be held the more firmly inengagement with the pipe. The link 10, to which the lever 17 is pivoted,is serrated or otherwise roughened upon its inner face to facilitate thepurchase of the chain-body upon the pipe.

A quick release of the pipe from the wrench is efiected by simplycarrying the lever 17 upward, and the wrench -may be entirely removedfrom said pipe by drawing the lever entirely out of the locking-link 14.

As the lever 17 is quite short, a handle 19 is provided therefor, andthis handle is preferably provided with a socket 20 at each end, thesockets being of different dimensions, so that one handle may be usedwith wrenches of two difierent sizes. The upper end of the lever 17 ismade to enter a socket in the handle, and adjacent to each socket on theouter face of the handle a thumb-latch 21 is pivoted, carrying at one ofits ends a pawl 22, which has sliding movement in an opening in thehandle and extends into the socket, the inner end of the pawl beingbeveled or otherwise shaped to fit to the teeth 18 of the lever, and thepawl is likewise held in position for engagement with the said teeth bymeans of a spring 23, placed beneath the handle end of the latch.

It is evident that a wrench of the above description, in addition tobeing simple, durable, and economic,will occupy but little space in atool-chest and will be effective in operation.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In a pipe-wrench, a chain-body having theinner faces of its links concaved to fit to a cylindrical surface, alocking-link located at one end of the said chain-body, and alocking-bar serving as a lever, pivoted to the opposite end of the saidchain-body, being adapted to be passed through the locking-link and havelocking engagement therewith, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a pipe-wrench, the combination, with the locking-bar or leverthereof, of a handle receiving an end portion of the said lockingbar orlever, the said handle being provided with a spring-controlled pawloperated from the exterior of the handle and arranged for lockin gengagement with the aforesaid locking-bar or lever, as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a pipe-wrench, the combination, with a chain-body, the linkswhereof have a pivotal connection and are provided with concaved innerfaces, adapting them to fit closely to a cylindrical surface, a slottedand curved locking-link pivotally connected with one end of thechain-body, the outer wall of the slot of the said locking-link havingits surfaces inclined partially upward and partially downward, and atoothed locking-bar or lever, having a hinged connection with theopposite end of the chain-body, the said lever or lockingbar beingadapted to pass through the slot in the locking-link, the teeth of thelocking-bar or lever engaging with thebeveled wall of the locking-link,of a handle provided with a socket to receive the free end of thelockingbar or lever, a pawl having sliding movement in the handle andarranged for engagement with the teeth of the locking-bar or lever, anda latch located on the handle, whereby the movement of the pawl iscontrolled, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A wrench comprisingabody portion constructed of links adapted toclamp an object, a slottedlocking-link pivotally connected to one end ofsaid body portion, and a lever pivotally connected with the other end ofsaid body portion and adapted to be passed through the slot in thelockinglink, said lever having teeth arranged to be held in engagementwith the end wall of the slot in said locking-link, as set forth.

5. In a pipe-wrench the combination of a body portion formed ofpivotally-connected links having their inner faces concaved, alocking-link pivotally connected to one end of said body portion andprovided with a longitudinal slot, one wall of which is inclined inopposite directions, and a lever pivotally connected with the oppositeend of said body portion, and arranged to be passed through said slottedlocking-link, said lever being provided with a toothed edge adapted toengage the inclined wall of said locking-link, as set forth.

6. In a pipe-wrench, the combination with a body portion, of alocking-link and a lever pivotally connected to the opposite ends ofsaid body portion, said lever having toothed engagement with saidlocking-link, and a handle carrying a pawl also in engagement with theteeth of said lever, as and for the purpose set forth.

JULIUS RICHARD. FREDERICK COLMAN.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN M. JoHNsoN, C. HARRIS.

